Page 16 of How We End

Except unlike a relationship, there were no expectations, and that felt like freedom.She didn’t care about hockey, or who my father had been, or how I’d fallen short.She wasn’t coy about what she wanted from me.I didn’t have to explain myself.I didn’t have to think.Just fuck.

“Well, that was fun,” she said, looping my tie around my neck.

“I bet you say that to all the boys.”I had no idea what would drive a woman as beautiful as Cassidy into this line of work.

“No, Julian.Only to theboyI had fun with.”She bit her bottom lip as her long fingers worked the silk into a knot.

“It was fun.Wasn’t it?”

She nodded.“Very.”

“You’re not just saying that?”

She stepped closer to me, and I liked that.I also liked the way she looked at me.“If you want me to lie to you, that will be extra, and you need to put that on your form.”She winked.“It was a very enjoyable evening.”

“Enough so that you’d do it again?”The thought left my mouth before I could stop it.Anders was on to something.I got sex without all the shit that came with it.There were no emotions, and she couldn’t hurt me.She couldn’t use anything against me.I didn’t have to spend time with her.We’d have sex, and then I’d go home.

She rose up on her toes, pressing her mouth to my jaw.“Absolutely.”

“Cassidy, you have three minutes.If he’s not out here, I’ll be in there,” Jackson called.

She rolled her eyes.“Yes, Jackson.”She smiled quickly.“I want to remind you, you signed an NDA, as did I.So…”

“So no walking into practice tomorrow and giving my entire team a play-by-play recount of what happened tonight?”I reached past her for my belt.“I’m sure they’d love to hear how you had to practically beg me to sit by you.Or to kiss you.”

Cassidy reached out and touched my arm.“It doesn’t matter how it starts.It’s about how it ends.”

Her eyes were soft.I noticed a small scar on the corner of her left eye.“And how will we end?”I hadn’t meant for that to be anything other than a play on words.But it sounded a bit needy and like I was weirdly planning our future together.

Jackson knocked on the door again.“With Jackson interrupting us.Yes, Jackson.”

“If I wanted to see you again?Do I call that number?”

“You can text.You pay your deposit, send your choice of days, and Margo will confirm.”She opened the bedroom door, where Jackson was standing.“All in one piece,” she said.

“About time.Let’s go, puck boy.”Jackson handed me my jacket.

I stopped in front of her.I could do this again.Maybe a couple agains.She was easy to be with.“I’ll be in touch.”

“I hope so.”She pressed a quick kiss on my mouth before stepping back into the bedroom.

Fucking Anders.

Post-Game Report, Las Vegas Desert Coyotes vs Florida Renegades, Final Score 2-1

Tropicana Arena, Miami, FL

October 19

“Welcome to the Toyota post-game report.All the regular faces are here.This was the first time Vegas and Florida have faced off this season.What do we think?”

“If you’re hinting to this being the first time Shaw and Silver have seen each other since this summer, I’m actually surprised both coaches were able to keep those two under control.Granted, we did see a couple tense moments.There were a few words exchanged between the benches and a couple of shoves, but both men were able to stay out of the penalty box.”

“I’m not surprised.These two are professionals, and they were here to play a game.This game showed us why Vegas picked up Silver.He’s one of those wingers that can also play that center position.Which Vegas needs.And when you have a winger that is the size of Silver, six-four and pushing 230, you have to have a center that is fast and can move the puck quickly.I don’t think we see that with Blais.I know who could keep up with Silver.”

“Payton Hulton?That wouldn’t be a dumb move for Vegas, and Hulton’s contract is up this season.We could see a Hulton-Silver lineup as soon as next season.”

“Silver would never let that happen, not after last year’s All-Star break.”